What is Gnosis?

In the original Greek, it simply refers to “knowledge”. The Oxford
English Dictionary defines gnosis as “A special knowledge of
spiritual mysteries.”

We use the term to refer to the special knowledge required to attain
self-realization and personal fulfillment. As we are all individuals,
so each person’s gnosis will be unique; as we have certain common
characteristics, so each person’s gnosis will have similarities to
those of others.

What is Scientific Illuminism?

The English poet, mystic, and magician Aleister Crowley referred to
his system of magical theory, exploration, and practice as
Scientific Illuminism, expressed handily in the slogan of his
publication The Equinox: “The Method of Science; The Aim of
Religion”.

As Scientific Illuminists we apply the basic scientific techniques of
observation and refinement of hypotheses to our goal — the
attainment of gnosis for each of us — even as we acknowledge the
personal, non-quantifiable nature of many of the phenomena involved.

What is Magick?

Magick was defined by Crowley as “the Science and Art of causing
Change to occur in conformity with Will”. Every intentional act is a
magical one; even breathing is an act of the Will to Live.

The word is usually taken to suggest a “supernatural” or
“paranormal” process is involved: conjuring a demon to kill a person
is magical, but using a gun is not. In Scientific Illuminism we
simply view such processes as those which are not yet sufficiently
understood and sufficiently reproducible, like any experimental
technology in a poorly-understood field of science.

The use of the letter “-k” at the end of “magick” (but not in
derivatives like “magical” or “magician”) is used to distinguish “real
magick” from “stage magic”; but even there, the stage magician is
using known laws and processes to entertain his audience and earn
money, so his actions are still “magick” by definition.

What is Thelema?

Thelema (Θελημα) is
a Greek word meaning “will”. It is here the name of the system of
mental and magical practices, having a spiritual character, which
originates in both the Eastern Yogic traditions and the Western
Hermetic traditions, brought together by Crowley.

As a system Thelema is certainly oriented toward the attainment of
spiritual goals; however, Crowley wrote against calling it a
religion:

“Call it a new religion, then ... but I confess that I fail to see
what you will have gained by so doing, and ... you might easily cause
a great deal of misunderstanding, and work a rather stupid kind of
mischief.”—Crowley, Magick Without Tears, chapter 31

Thelema,n.1. a spiritual philosophy teaching
the discovery and following of one’s own unique will as a path to
supreme realization. 2. the unique, individual will. 3.
the faculty of will.

The process of attainment in Thelema can be summarized simply:
Discover what your true will is, and then perform it to the fullest.
Or as a friend of ours says: “Find out what you are, then be that.”

Are you a Masonic group?

The Masonic degree rituals contain a great deal of symbolism and
moral lessons, intended to build upon and enrich the character and
spiritual life of the Mason. Our Temple partakes of these rituals
because of the actual (magical) power of the initiatory process
to effect change in the initiate’s awareness and capabilities.

However, the Temple is not a chartered body of a Regular
Masonic Jurisdiction. Affiliation and advancement within our Temple
does not imply any affiliation, membership, rank, or
privilege in the Masonic Fraternity. And unlike regular Masonic
bodies, the Temple is open to persons of whatever gender or lack
thereof.

We are not Masons, nor do we claim to be. We are students of
magick, taking advantage of the rich tradition, lore, and ritual
corpus of Freemasonry to help us achieve our magical goals.

What is the significance of the number 31?

The central document of Thelema is Liber AL vel Legis, also
known as The Book of the Law. The book is full of mystical
references, allusions, statements of morality, and communications in
cipher. Crowley and his protegé Charles Stansfeld Jones
(Frater Achad) discovered that the number 31 was a numerological key
which revealed hidden meanings therein.

The founder of Golden Triangle Temple did numerological research in
the late 1990s, building upon Crowley and Achad’s work, and formulated
a system of English Qabalah based upon 31, or “EQ31” for short. The EQ31 system does not claim a
monopoly on the truths of English Qabalah within Thelema; however, it
does produce some remarkable correspondences and insights, and in the
founder’s own life provided the prompting which led him to Work with T
Allen Greenfield and to establish the Temple.

Can you summarize the connections between these things?

We believe that gnosis (knowledge leading to
self-realization and personal fulfillment) may be obtained through an
application of reason and observation to one’s spiritual experiences,
which is known as scientific illuminism. The magician and
mystic Aleister Crowley devised a spiritual philosophy called
Thelema around the notion that everyone has a true Will in
life, and through gnosis they can discover and perform this Will. We
feel that the moral lessons and initiatory transformations caused by
the Masonic rituals have a lot of promise in helping to effect
self-discovery and personal growth. And finally, we have found that
the system of numerological analysis called EQ31 produces
interesting results for pointing people in the right direction, and
several of our members find it interesting to explore.

Your methods differ from those of other Gnostic groups. What gives?

As noted above, every individual’s gnosis is different; so, too, every
group’s studies and practices must be. Our sisters, brothers, and
colleagues in other localities explore gnosis as they prefer. It is
possible for gnostics of all flavors to compare notes and “share
recipes”. And our parent bodies (The Lodge of the Sons and Daughters
of Aaron, and Ecclesia Gnostica Universalis) encourage such
decentralized research and organization, in full recognition of the
diversity of the Gnosis.